When Selahattin Ozakin, a Turkish school teacher faxed a letter last month to Turkey's new President, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, he never expected to get an answer. But 20 minutes later, Sezer was on the phone to Ozakin, thanking him for his expression of support.

Since being elected President last May, the once obscure former judge is steadily winning the affection of millions of Turks with his discreet style, which has little of the arrogance and pomp of his predecessors. [For additional information see Eurasia Insight archive]. He has queued up along with ordinary Turks for health check-ups at state hospitals, and mingled with crowds at local supermarkets. "For the first time we have a President, who stops at red traffic lights," wrote Ozakin in his now famous letter. "When I heard this my eyes began to shine